Mike wrote:
(Mine is 130 years old)

Mike wrote:
Hi, Pew. You know that "destined for hell" is to those who reject God's truth, right? They are without excuse for a reason.
Psalm 9:17
"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."
Can't forget what has never been revealed, Pew.

It's a bit queer to save the world by carbon counting?

Worldliness leads to confusion in everything doesn't it??

No Need to pray.

God's answer to the sodomite abomination is already recorded in Scripture.
God states...
"13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The FACT that FAITH is the gift of God is tremendously powerful for the Elect and together with the verses Eph 1:4,5 which confirm that God elected and predestinated us before the foundation of the world, is cast iron proof set in spiritual concrete that we will be saved. Amen.

Not enough.

Jim Lincoln wrote:
As far as atonement is concerned,....read this booklet on line, booklets/pdf - "Calvinism & Arminianism"

The problem with this hypothesis is the 'COMPREHENSION' of the individual. If the group you are addressing is not yet saved, lets say in an evangelistic situation, then very few of them will comprehend the full meaning, if indeed any of it. The Elect are not going to believe BECAUSE of this specific point, neither are the non-elect. So it is a straw man!

To make this a reason for not teaching Biblical Limited Atonement is deceitful and in error.

John UK wrote:
This is the position of the Particular Redemptionist

Is the expiation of Christ comprehensive in its application to humanity? - NO!

Is the expiation of Christ applied to ALL mankind? NO!

What is the 'Atonmement' of Christ?
Briefly put....."In theology, the expiation of sin made by the obedience and personal sufferings of Christ."

Is their a specific range to which this Atonement is applied by God? YES!

It is applied to the Elect of God IN Christ.

Does this mean God 'limits' the expiation/atonement of His Son to a specific group of People? YES!

For centuries "Limited Atonement" has been known and taught as derived from the experiential knowledge, and the spiritual knowledge gained by faith, by the Christian. These self same Christians were taught of the Holy Spirit.

Limited Atonement is NOT something the Christian needs to fear, - BUT to rejoice in because of God's election, justification and salvation IN Christ.

John UK wrote:
1 Tim 3:16
And without controuersie, great is the mysterie of godlinesse: God was manifest in the flesh, iustified in the Spirit, seene of Angels, preached vnto the Gentiles, beleeued on in the world, receiued vp into glory.
King James Bible 1611
And without controuersie, great is the mysterie of godlinesse, which is, God is manifested in the flesh, iustified in the Spirit, seene of Angels, preached vnto the Gentiles, beleeued on in the world, and receiued vp in glorie.
Geneva Bible 1587
And without doubt, great is that misterie of godlynesse: God was shewed in the flesshe, was iustified in the spirite, was seene among the angels, was preached vnto the gentiles, was beleued on in the worlde, and was receaued vp in glorie.
__________________
By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.
NASB
Where did God go?

Jim Lincoln wrote:
Any Bible that was designed by state committee and is not in good modern English, should be automatically rejected, by the English reading Christian for serious study of The Word.

Any of the modern translations eg NIV,ESV,NKJV,NASB etc should be rejected because of the bad Greek texts which they have come from.
The Christian is guided into the truth by the Holy Spirit and this has always been the case - and has been in the last four centuries, using the KJV.

It was not The Holy Spirit which requested His Sword be sharpened. This confusion of versions came from man the sinner.

If today we actually saw that the churches were becomming more sound in doctrine from the current myriad of so called Modern Versions then we could celebrate.
BUT obviously "modern vernacular" CLEARLY does not mean "sound doctrine."

If the modern versions and modern vernacular increased and revived the church then we could assume GOD was blessing them.
BUT thats not the case either.

John UK wrote:
#2 Are you SURE we have to overcome covetousness and the god of mammon? Or were you referring to church members?

p.s. I've missed you very much, so I am very glad to see you back.

ps I'm never too far away to miss a chance for a good fencepost.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬

Mike wrote:
Oh John, you needn't worry, bro Pew is never far from our hearts.
Hope this Sunday has been a blessing to you. And Pew

DisplacedMaritimer (Bert) wrote:
a] There are many passages in Scripture (e.g. James 2:14) that we are not saved by faith alone. He even goes as far as to say that faith alone without works is a dead faith.

b] the most important Scriptural reference is Matt 25:33-46. Notice that Jesus is not saying that the goats have been refused entry into Heaven because of their sins.......
.....These are people who believed in Jesus and had faith in Him but who did not do any good works.

b] But note Matt 7:21-23 where the believer DID do works which Jesus did not credit. Jesus then states, "I never knew you" Thus their works were of no consquence to the Lord.

John UK wrote:
The best place for the church to go is outdoors where the sinners are. Out on the streets, handing out tracts, preaching the gospel with a loud voice, gently witnessing to interested individuals...

But today we have to overcome covetousness and ye old popular god of mammon. Also there is a distinct decline in the number of people who find a pew, to at least begin the process. Then there is the church of ignorance and error which nullifies the work, but still finds a place in the community.

The battle of course is well in hand against the forces of darkness and their insidious offensive, such as tares amongst the wheat, false teachings and confusion.

But hey, some things never change! Jesus started with just twelve and look what happened.

Mike wrote:
doesn't make much sense

The "radical" Arminian position (and septs) take human autonomy and human self determination to even greater degrees and there do you find Modern Liberal theology in many denoms and churches today. Anglican/Episcopalian for example. Thus the very seed or leaven of unprecedented human contribution is very dangerous to Biblical Doctrine of Salvation.

Mike wrote:
a] You forgot to answer the human responsibility question, pew.

b] "let him deny himself"? What is this, some do it yourself instruction?

a] No I didn't. The ability of the sinner to overcome sin and come to Christ is by God's gift of faith alone. You CANNOT separate human ability/action (responsibility?) from the work of Grace and Spirit.

b] Denying self is the task of the born again (only) and part of the inner struggle which the Holy Spirit enables us to deal with. We can only achieve this by the Spirit's help. No Spirit No happen!

"But since the Scriptures show that God ultimately determines what we will do and yet we are still accountable for our actions, we must conclude that the common belief that moral accountability requires ultimate self-determination is false. Ultimate self-determination is unnecessary for moral accountability. Therefore, we see that moral accountability is based upon something other than the power of ultimate self-determination."(M. Perman)

Funny Man wrote:
does human responsibility have any place in your theology?

Human responsibility. - God elects. God provides faith as a gift to the Elect. Faith is the work of the Holy Spirit. Thus GOD providentially in HIS mercy provides us with the ability to serve HIM, even though we are Totally Depraved and sin prevents us from spiritual decision. Thus do we carry out the work of GOD in our life which belongs to HIM.

As John the Baptist taught
"He must increase, but I must decrease"

As Jesus commanded
"Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

And Paul
"Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do"